Life is full of surprises—and not all of them are good. Whether you have an overflowing toilet or flooded basement, there's no need to panic. "With a little know-how, you can prevent small home emergencies from becoming big ones," says Jodi Marks, home repair expert and author of Fix It in a Flash. "And many situations require only basic tools found at any hardware store." Here's how to handle common home emergencies as well as prevent potential disasters.

DIY Fix: Turn off the water supply (it's the little oval knob on the water line going into the tank). Place a toilet plunger with a bell-shaped end in the bowl, covering the hole. "Push the plunger up and down quickly a few times, at the speed you'd use to shake a martini," says Marks. For stubborn clogs, use a toilet auger, a long coil tool with a cranking handle that is a must-have item in your home repair toolkit (available at most hardware stores as well as at Lowes.com). To use the auger, pull up on the handle, retracting the coil into the shaft of the tool. Place the coil tip in the hole and crank the handle to unblock the clog. Reverse cranking motion to remove tool. Photo: Thinkstock.com

DIY Fix: Use a canister vacuum designed for water or a squeegee and mop to get up as much water as possible. Run fans and a dehumidifier to pull moisture out of the air; skip space heaters. "If you raise the temperature without getting rid of the moisture, you're creating a greenhouse for microbial growth," says Pete Duncanson, a certified instructor for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. If there is too much water to remove with a canister wet vac and/or mop, to minimize damage, shut off the main water line until the pros arrive (don't wait for an emergency to find the valve—make sure you know where it is ahead of time). Other instances that require professional assistance include any water damage done to drywall or furniture; wet, saturated carpets; electrical outlets being exposed to water; and sewage line leaks. Photo: David Seed Photography/Getty Images

DIY Fix: If you turn on the faucet during a frosty morning and there's no water, you may have a frozen pipe. "It usually occurs when a pipe is located near an exterior wall or unheated crawlspace, or if it's exposed to cold air through cracks and holes in the exterior wall," says Marks. To get things flowing again, open the faucet. Use a hairdryer or apply a heating pad to the section of pipe that feels frozen. Heat the line until there's a steady flow of water. To prevent future occurrences, slip foam insulation sleeves over pipes. Photo: Thinkstock.com

DIY Fix: Use a sink plunger (which looks like a ball cut in half at the end) with petroleum jelly around its edges to get a good seal. If this doesn't work, remove the P-trap on the drainpipe under the sink. "It's the curvy portion secured by a plastic collar or nut," says Marks. Place a bucket under the P-trap. Gently loosen the nut (there's also a plastic washer inside) with a wrench. Push a wire coat hanger through the P-trap. Still clogged? Feed a sink auger (another essential tool for your arsenal that can be found at most hardware stores or at AceHardware.com) into the pipe sticking out of the wall by unwinding it like a tape measure. Still no luck? Call the plumber. Photo: Shutterstock.com

DIY Fix: Overheated cooking oil can bubble, overflow and ignite. If a pan on your stovetop catches fire, slide a lid over the pan to smother it; don't drop the lid on top of the pan, as it can splatter hot grease. Turn off the burner. "Avoid carrying the flaming pan to the sink or outside," says Lorraine Carli, spokeswoman for the National Fire Protection Association. "It's simply too dangerous." And never use water, which can spread the fire, or a fire extinguisher, which can splatter the grease. If the fire spreads, get out of the house and call 9-1-1. Photo: Michael Blann/Thinkstock.com

Some emergencies go well beyond most homeowners' expertise. However, you can minimize damage by following the precautions below.

You can't see or smell carbon monoxide (CO), but it can cause illness and death. CO is produced when any fuel such as gas, wood or kerosene is burned. If your home's detectors go off, open windows and doors, says Carli. Shut off all potential sources of CO, such as the furnace, water heater or gas space heater. If any family member is experiencing a headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion or shortness of breath, go to the ER and tell the physician you suspect CO poisoning. And have appliances and chimneys checked for leaks by trained technicians. Photo: Nick M Do/Getty Images

Your safest place during a thunderstorm is indoors, but even then you need to take precautions. "If your house is struck, lightning can travel through electrical, plumbing and phone systems, as well as through concrete floors and walls," says John Jensenius, lightning safety specialist for the National Weather Service. "To stay safe during a storm, avoid any conducting path to the outside." That means don't use corded phones, computers and TVs; don't shower or do dishes or laundry; and stay away from windows and doors. If you're concerned about electronic equipment, unplug it before the storm arrives. Photo: Thinkstock.com

If the power goes out during a storm, keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. The fridge will keep food cold for about four hours if unopened; a freezer will keep its temperature for about 48 hours if full (24 hours if half-full). Keep space heaters properly ventilated and away from combustible materials such as wallpaper, bedding and clothing. If your water supply could be affected (such as a well-water pump system), fill spare containers with water. Unplug major appliances and electronic equipment to protect them from a power surge when power comes back on. Photo: Shutterstock.com